Trapped in a Sacred Prison
CHAPTER 9

I was often away from my parents when they were on a business trip, even though staying for days was fine for me.

But since I entered this sacred prison, I felt that something was missing when I did not see my parents, a deep longing burst into my heart.

In this sacred prison, I began to realize how valuable time and togetherness with parents that sometimes I wasted.

(Lutfiyah Salamah Rashid)

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Day after day, with the help of his roommate, Uelfi began to memorize the hijaiyah letters along with their punctuation.

Right on the seventh day, after school and after the dzuhur prayer, Ulli again visited Hasan's grandfather's house. So smoothly, Ulfi memorized the hijaiyah letters and their punctuation in front of the grandfather.

Hasan's grandfather was quite relieved, because in the end Uelfi was able to carry out the punishment he gave. His desire to talk to both of his parents was able to encourage Ulli to finish the sentence to the fullest.

"Good, today your sentence is over" said Hasan's grandfather, making Ulli immediately smile happily.

"Yes, now it's grandfather's turn to fulfill grandfather's promise," said Uelfi enthusiastically, he was hoping that after contacting his parents, they would come to see him soon.

"Alright, use your grandfather's phone to contact them" said Hasan's grandfather, handing his phone to Ulli.

Ullis finally made a video call. And without realizing it, his tears stopped when the faces of his parents appeared on the screen of the phone. Long enough Ulfi spoke, he even spilled all his complaints to his parents about his life in the pesantren.

In fact, he asked his parents to pick him back to Jakarta, but of course his parents could not do anything. Let alone pick up, just visit them can not, so it makes Uelfi again feel disappointed.

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After receiving a call from the princess, Hana again cried a mouthful, whether it had been how many times he cried since Uldi was put into the pesantren, he was really worried thinking about the fate of his daughter there.

Rashid who was beside him could not even say anything more. He really could do nothing but strengthen his wife. If only he had not kept his promise to his father not to visit Ulfi until the sixth month of Ulfi was there, he might have come to see him every day, no matter how much he had to spend as long as he could often visit his daughter.

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Ulfi now walked back to her dorm, but while in the middle of the street, she saw her roommate in the cafeteria waving at her. Ulli who was feeling hungry, finally went to catch up with them in the cafeteria.

"How's Ulf, his deposit success?" ask Sarah.

"Fuck off," answered Ulli lazily.

"Kok failed, didn't you really do well earlier when you were in the room?" ask Sinta.

"My deposit was a success, but my goal was a failure."

"Your destination?" this time Ira was curious.

"Yes, I was memorizing because I wanted to call my parents to see me, but they couldn't."

"Maybe you have been thrown away" said Amel, who passed by them and heard the words of Ulfi. Of course it made the seven girls look at Amel, let alone Ulli who was looking at him sharply.

"Eh if you say not carelessly dong," said Ulfi who immediately approached Amel and pushed him until the girl fell on the floor.

Ulfi even wanted to go back to Amel but was immediately detained by Sinta and Sarah.

"Why are you angry, you should be self-introspective, maybe your parents are sick of seeing girls like you who are bar-bars plus shy about ever being caught by the police, right?" amel's sarcasm, making Uelfi silent, he did not expect the news about him who had been arrested by the police could reach Amel's ears.

"Why silence? so let's just say you've been in pen.-"

"Enough Mel?" arguing that Sarah stopped Amel's words, she now looked at Ulfi who looked so angry with her clenched hand.

"Lisa, Ira, please take Uldi to the room, this afternoon we eat in the room, once eat in the room is okay, well," Sarah said slowly to her roommate.

And finally, Lisa, Ulli, and Ira had returned to the room first. While Sarah, Ika, Fira and Sinta are negotiating with the canteen mbak in order to bring food with more portions for each person.

Not waiting long, Sinta who is very good at negotiating finally managed to get 2 servings per person. Hiding the food they had brought behind their big veils and walking quickly without arousing suspicion, they had now managed to arrive in their rooms with the food still intact. To keep their security from the dormitory builder, Sinta swiftly closed the doors and window curtains.

Now they have gathered to form a circle at the back of his room which is a little spacious and safer because it is blocked by the closet if seen from the front of the room.

"Wait a minute, it feels like something is lacking" Lisa murmured and then moved from her seat and went to pick something up in her closet.

"Therea, eating with this must be more delicious," Lisa said while showing a large tray.

"Well, that's right" said Sinta and poured all the food he brought into the tray.

And of course that confused Ullis. "Hey, what are you doing?" ask the girl.

"We will eat a plate of seven Ullis" Ika replied.

"IIihh, that's it, slovenly to know," he protested.

"Yes no slob, you think we're saying slovenly, this is the most delicious way to eat, eat a plate together, don't you guys?" tukas Sinta's.

"Betoooool," Lisa chimed in with her two thumbs.

"Come Ulf, try it first, someday you will miss this," Sarah asked.

Despite his doubts, Uelfi kept trying, this was the first time he had eaten a plate together with people, and it was quite uncomfortable for him.

"I'm full ah." Uldi put his spoon in the third feed while his six friends were still eating.

"Rare you full?" ask Ira to make sure.

"Yes," answered Ulli, then he moved from his place and sat for a moment on his bed.

Sarah who was still eating occasionally turned to Uldi who seemed so agitated, I don't know what the girl was thinking at this time, which obviously he was thinking about something heavy, something heavy, and it was clearly visible from his shriveled forehead and his dewy-looking eyes.

The girl then stood up and opened her closet for a while, then she put on her hijab to get out.

"Ulf, where are you going?" reproof Sarah.

"Get out for a moment" Ulli replied without stopping her steps.

Sarah simply put her shoulders back and resumed her delayed eating activities.

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Not felt, the night returned to welcome, adhan maghrib again sounded throughout the pesantren, making all students and santriwati get ready to perform the service.

"Guys, where's Ulli? Honestly well I'm tired of knowing in the law because the children do not participate in congregational prayers" Sinta said while wearing his face.

Well, it's been a week more Ulfi stay in the pesantren, and during that time, Ulufis often skip the congregation prayer with various reasons that of course not accepted by their elder brother. As a result, their punishment is increasingly piling up, ranging from cleaning toilets, backyard dormitories, to cleaning the mosque they must receive together. And Ulfi, the girl only occasionally participated in his duties, the rest he more sat and became a spectator.

"Oh yeah, since this afternoon he's been out, where is he?" added Sarah.

"At her grandfather's house kali," Lisa said.

"Or don't-don't-" Sinta stopped her words while staring at the faces of her roommates as if they were communicating using telepathy.

"Huss, do not su'udzhon first, we just wait until 9, if again he has not returned then we have to report to the Fauziyah ustadzah," said Sarah.

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